Method and system for controlling and monitoring an array of point-of-load regulators

ABSTRACT

A power control system comprises a plurality of POL regulators, at least one serial data bus operatively connecting the plurality of POL regulators, and a system controller connected to the serial data bus and adapted to send and receive digital data to and from the plurality of POL regulators. The serial data bus further comprises a first data bus carrying programming and control information between the system controller and the plurality of POL regulators. The serial data bus may also include a second data bus carrying fault management information between the system controller and the plurality of POL regulators. The power control may also include a front-end regulator providing an intermediate voltage to the plurality of POL regulators on an intermediate voltage bus.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims priority as a continuation-in-part pursuant to35 U.S.C. §120 of patent application Ser. No. 11/354,550, filed Feb. 14,2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,266,709, which was in turn acontinuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 10/326,222, filedDec. 21, 2002, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,125.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to power control systems, or moreparticularly, to a method and system to control and monitor an array ofpoint-of-load regulators.

2. Description of Related Art

With the increasing complexity of electronic systems, it is common foran electronic system to require power provided at several differentdiscrete voltage and current levels. For example, electronic systems mayinclude discrete circuits that require voltages such as 3v, 5v, 9v, etc.Further, many of these circuits require a relatively low voltage (e.g.,1v), but with relatively high current (e.g., 100 A). It is undesirableto deliver relatively high current at low voltages over a relativelylong distance through an electronic device for a number of reasons.First, the relatively long physical run of low voltage, high currentlines consumes significant circuit board area and congests the routingof signal lines on the circuit board. Second, the impedance of the linescarrying the high current tends to dissipate a lot of power andcomplicate load regulation. Third, it is difficult to tailor thevoltage/current characteristics to accommodate changes in loadrequirements.

In order to satisfy these power requirements, it is known to distributean intermediate bus voltage throughout the electronic system, andinclude an individual point-of-load (“POL”) regulator, i.e., DC/DCconverter, at the point of power consumption within the electronicsystem. Particularly, a POL regulator would be included with eachrespective electronic circuit to convert the intermediate bus voltage tothe level required by the electronic circuit. An electronic system mayinclude multiple POL regulators to convert the intermediate bus voltageinto each of the multiple voltage levels. Ideally, the POL regulatorwould be physically located adjacent to the corresponding electroniccircuit so as to minimize the length of the low voltage, high currentlines through the electronic system. The intermediate bus voltage can bedelivered to the multiple POL regulators using low current lines thatminimize loss.

With this distributed approach, there is a need to coordinate thecontrol and monitoring of the POL regulators of the power system. ThePOL regulators generally operate in conjunction with a power supplycontroller that activates, programs, and monitors the individual POLregulators. It is known in the art for the controller to use amulti-connection parallel bus to activate and program each POLregulator. For example, the parallel bus may communicate anenable/disable bit for turning each POL regulator on and off, andvoltage identification (VID) code bits for programming the outputvoltage set-point of the POL regulators. The controller may further useadditional connections to monitor the voltage/current that is deliveredby each POL regulator so as to detect fault conditions of the POLregulators. A drawback with such a control system is that it addscomplexity and size to the overall electronic system.

Thus, it would be advantageous to have a system and method forcontrolling and monitoring POL regulators within a distributed powersystem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method for controlling andmonitoring POL regulators within a distributed power system.

In an embodiment of the invention, the power control system comprises aplurality of POL regulators, at least one serial data bus operativelyconnecting the plurality of POL regulators, and a system controllerconnected to the serial data bus and adapted to send and receive digitaldata to and from the plurality of POL regulators. The serial data busfurther comprises a first data bus carrying programming, control andmonitoring information between the system controller and the pluralityof POL regulators. The serial data bus may also include a second databus carrying fault management information between the system controllerand the plurality of POL regulators. The power control may also includea front-end regulator providing an intermediate voltage to the pluralityof POL regulators on an intermediate voltage bus.

The POL control system enables four different modes of operation. In thefirst operational mode, the POL regulators function independently in theabsence of a system controller and without interaction with other POLregulators. In the second operational mode, the POL regulatorsinteroperate for the purpose of current sharing or interleaving in theabsence of a system controller. In the third operational mode, the POLregulators operate as an array in which the behavior of each POLregulator and the array as a whole are coordinated by a systemcontroller. Lastly, the fourth operational mode includes both centralcontrol using the system controller and local control over certainfunctionality. This way, the POL regulators operate as an arraycoordinated by a system controller and also interoperate with each otherto perform functions such as current sharing.

A more complete understanding of the method and system for controllingand monitoring a plurality of POL regulators will be afforded to thoseskilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantagesand objects thereof, by a consideration of the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment. Reference will be made to theappended sheets of drawings, which will first be described briefly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a prior art distributed power delivery system;

FIG. 2 depicts a prior art POL control system using a parallel controlbus;

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary POL control system constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary POL regulator of the POL control system; and

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary system controller of the POL control system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a system and method for controlling andmonitoring POL regulators within a distributed power system. In thedetailed description that follows, like element numerals are used todescribe like elements illustrated in one or more figures.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a prior art distributed power delivery systemis shown. The prior art distributed power deliver system includes anAC/DC converter 12 that converts the available AC power into a primaryDC power source, e.g., 48 volts. The primary DC power source isconnected to a primary power bus that distributes DC power to pluralelectronic systems, such as printed circuit board 14. The bus may befurther coupled to a battery 18 providing a back-up power source for theelectronic systems connected to the primary power bus. When the AC/DCconverter 12 is delivering DC power into the primary power bus, thebattery 18 is maintained in a fully charged state. In the event of lossof AC power or fault with the AC/DC converter 12, the battery 18 willcontinue to deliver DC power to the primary power bus for a limitedperiod of time defined by the capacity of the battery 18.

The printed circuit board 14 may further include a DC/DC converter thatreduces the primary bus voltage to an intermediate voltage level, suchas 5 or 12 volts. The intermediate voltage is then distributed over anintermediate power bus provided to plural circuits on the printedcircuit board 14. Each circuit has an associated point-of-load (“POL”)regulator located closely thereby, such as POLs 22, 24, and 26. Each POLregulator converts the intermediate bus voltage to a low voltage, highcurrent level demanded by the electronic circuit, such as 1.8 volts, 2.5volts, and 3.3 volts provided by POLs 22, 24, and 26, respectively. Itshould be appreciated that the voltage levels described herein areentirely exemplary, and that other voltage levels could be selected tosuit the particular needs of electronic circuits on the printed circuitboard 14. By locating the POLs 22, 24, 26 close to their correspondingelectronic circuits, the length of the low voltage, high current lineson the printed circuit board 14 are minimized. Moreover, theintermediate power bus can be adapted to carry relatively low current,thereby minimizing power loss due to the line impedance. But, thisdistributed power delivery system does not provide a way to monitor andcontrol the performance of the POLs 22, 24, 26.

FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art DC/DC converter control system having apower supply controller 32 and a plurality of DC/DC converters 34, 36,38, and 42. The DC/DC converters 34, 36, 38, and 42 are each connectedto a power bus (as described above with respect to FIG. 1), whichprovides an input voltage. The DC/DC converters 34, 36, 38, and 42 eachprovide a low voltage, high current output that passes throughrespective sensing resistors 46, 52, 56, and 62 and respective switches48, 54, 58, and 64. The controller 32 provides control signals to theDC/DC converters 34, 36, 38, and 42 via a plurality of six-bit parallelbuses that each carry an enable/disable bit and five VID code bits. TheVID code bits program the DC/DC converters for a desired outputvoltage/current level. The controller 32 also monitors the performanceof the DC/DC converters 34, 36, 38, and 42 using the sensing resistors46, 52, 56, and 62. Particularly, the controller 32 monitors the outputvoltage of each DC/DC converter by detecting the voltage at the outputside of the sensing resistor, and monitors the output current throughthe sensing resistor by detecting the voltage across the sensingresistor. The voltage and current sensing for each DC/DC converterrequires two separate lines, so eight separate lines are needed to sensethe voltage and current condition of the exemplary four-convertersystem. Moreover, the controller 32 has a switch enable line connectedto the gate terminals of switches 48, 54, 58, and 64, by which thecontroller 32 can shut off the output from any of the DC/DC controllers34, 36, 38, and 42.

In an exemplary operation, the controller 32 provides control parameters(e.g., output voltage set-point) to the DC/DC converter 34 via the VIDcode portion of the six-bit parallel bus. The controller 32 thenactivates the DC/DC converter 34 via the enable/disable portion of thesix-bit parallel bus. Once activated, the DC/DC converter 34 convertsthe power bus voltage (e.g., 48 volts) into a selected output voltage.The controller 32 then verifies that the output voltage is the desiredvoltage by measuring the voltage via the voltage monitoring line. If theoutput voltage is within an acceptable range, it is provided to the load(not shown) by activating the switch 48 via the switch enable line. Thecontroller 32 can then continuously monitor the output voltage and theoutput current produced by the DC/DC converter 34 by measuring theoutput voltage via the voltage monitoring line and measuring the voltagedrop across the sensing resistor (i.e., the voltage differential betweenthe current monitoring line and the voltage monitoring line). If thecontroller 32 detects a fault condition of the DC/DC converter 34 (e.g.,output voltage drops below a specific threshold), the controller 32 candisable and reset the DC/DC converter. The controller 32 communicateswith the other DC/DC converters 36, 38, and 42 in the same manner.

A disadvantage with the control system of FIG. 2 is that it addscomplexity and size to the overall electronic system by using a six-bitparallel bus to control each DC/DC converter and a separate three-lineoutput connection to monitor the performance of each DC/DC converter. Inother words, the controller 32 utilizes thirty-six separate connectionsin order to communicate with four DC/DC converters 34, 36, 38, and 42.As the complexity and power requirements of electronic systems increase,the number of connections to the controller will also increase in alinear manner.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a POL control system 100 is shown in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the POLcontrol system 100 includes a system controller 102, a front-endregulator 104, and a plurality of POL regulators 106, 108, 110, 112, and114 arranged in an array. The POL regulators depicted herein include,but are not limited to, point-of-load regulators, power-on-loadregulators, DC/DC converters, voltage regulators, and all otherprogrammable voltage or current regulating devices generally known tothose skilled in the art. An intra-device interface is provided betweenindividual ones of the POL regulators to control specific interactions,such as current share or paralleling, e.g., current share interface(CS1) provided between POL0 106 and POL1 108, and CS2 provided betweenPOL4 112 and POLn 114. In the exemplary configuration shown in FIG. 3,POL0 106 and POL1 108 operate in parallel mode to produce output voltageV_(O1) with increased current capability, POL2 110 produces outputvoltage V_(O2), and POL4 112 and POLn 114 operate in parallel mode toproduce output voltage V_(O3), though it should be appreciate that othercombinations and other numbers of POL regulators could be advantageouslyutilized.

The front-end regulator 104 provides an intermediate voltage to theplurality of POL regulators over an intermediate voltage bus, and maysimply comprise another POL regulator. The system controller 102 andfront-end regulator 104 may be integrated together in a single unit, ormay be provided as separate devices. Alternatively, the front-endregulator 104 may provide a plurality of intermediate voltages to thePOL regulators over a plurality of intermediate voltage buses. Thesystem controller 102 may draw its power from the intermediate voltagebus.

The system controller 102 communicates with the plurality of POLregulators by writing and/or reading digital data (either synchronouslyor asynchronous) via a uni-directional or bi-directional serial bus,illustrated in FIG. 3 as the synch/data bus. The synch/data bus maycomprise a two-wire serial bus (e.g., I²C) that allows data to betransmitted asynchronously or a single-wire serial bus that allows datato be transmitted synchronously (i.e., synchronized to a clock signal).In order to address any specific POL in the array, each POL isidentified with a unique address, which may be hardwired into the POL orset by other methods. The system controller 102 also communicates withthe plurality of POL regulators for fault management over a secondunidirectional or bi-directional serial bus, illustrated in FIG. 3 asthe OK/fault bus. By grouping plural POL regulators together byconnecting them to a common OK/fault bus allows the POL regulators havethe same behavior in the case of a fault condition. Also, the systemcontroller 102 communicates with a user system via a user interface busfor programming, setting, and monitoring of the POL control system 10.Lastly, the system controller 102 communicates with the front-endregulator 104 over a separate line to disable operation of the front-endregulator.

An exemplary POL regulator 106 of the POL control system 10 isillustrated in greater detail in FIG. 4. The other POL regulators ofFIG. 3 have substantially identical configuration. The POL regulator 106includes a power conversion circuit 142, a serial interface 144, a POLcontroller 146, default configuration memory 148, and hardwired settingsinterface 150. The power conversion circuit 142 transforms an inputvoltage (V_(i)) to the desired output voltage (V_(O)) according tosettings received through the serial interface 144, the hardwiredsettings 150 or default settings. The power conversion circuit 142 mayalso include monitoring sensors for output voltage, current, temperatureand other parameters that are used for local control and alsocommunicated back to the system controller through the serial interface144. The power conversion circuit 142 may also generate a Power Good(PG) output signal for stand-alone applications in order to provide asimplified monitoring function. The serial interface 144 receives andsends commands and messages to the system controller 102 via thesynch/data and OK/fault serial buses. The default configuration memory148 stores the default configuration for the POL regulator 106 in caseswhere no programming signals are received through the serial interface144 or hardwired settings interface 150. The default configuration isselected such that the POL regulator 106 will operate in a “safe”condition in the absence of programming signals.

The hardwired settings interface 150 communicates with externalconnections to program the POL regulator without using the serialinterface 144. The hardwired settings interface 150 may include asinputs the address setting (Addr) of the POL to alter or set some of thesettings as a function of the address (i.e., the identifier or the POL),e.g., phase displacement, enable/disable bit (En), trim, and VID codebits. Further, the address identifies the POL regulator duringcommunication operations through the serial interface 144. The triminput allows the connection of one or more external resistors to definean output voltage level for the POL regulator. Similarly, the VID codebits can be used to program the POL regulator for a desired outputvoltage/current level. The enable/disable bit allows the POL regulatorto be turned on/off by toggling a digital high/low signal.

The POL controller 146 receives and prioritizes the settings of the POLregulator. If no settings information is received via either thehardwired settings interface 150 or the serial interface 144, the POLcontroller 146 accesses the parameters stored in the defaultconfiguration memory 148. Alternatively, if settings information isreceived via the hardwired settings interface 150, then the POLcontroller 146 will apply those parameters. Thus, the default settingsapply to all of the parameters that cannot be or are not set throughhard wiring. The settings received by the hardwired settings interface150 can be overwritten by information received via the serial interface144. The POL regulator can therefore operate in a stand-alone mode, afully programmable mode, or a combination thereof. This programmingflexibility enables a plurality of different power applications to besatisfied with a single generic POL regulator, thereby reducing the costand simplifying the manufacture of POL regulators.

An exemplary system controller 102 of the POL control system 100 isillustrated in FIG. 5. The system controller 102 includes a userinterface 122, a POL interface 124, a controller 126, and a memory 128.The user interface 122 sends and receives messages to/from the user viathe user interface bus. The user interface bus may be provided by aserial or parallel bi-directional interface using standard interfaceprotocols, e.g., an I²C interface. User information such as monitoringvalues or new system settings would be transmitted through the userinterface 122. The POL interface 124 transforms data to/from the POLregulators via the synch/data and OK/fault serial buses. The POLinterface 124 communicates over the synch/data serial bus to transmitsetting data and receive monitoring data, and communicates over theOK/fault serial bus to receive interrupt signals indicating a faultcondition in at least one of the connected POL regulators. The memory128 comprises a non-volatile memory storage device used to store thesystem set-up parameters (e.g., output voltage, current limitationset-point, timing data, etc.) for the POL regulators connected to thesystem controller 102. Optionally, a secondary, external memory 132 mayalso be connected to the user interface 122 to provide increased memorycapacity for monitoring data or setting data.

The controller 126 is operably connected to the user interface 122, thePOL interface 124, and the memory 128. The controller 126 has anexternal port for communication a disable signal (FE DIS) to thefront-end regulator 104. At start-up of the POL control system 100, thecontroller 126 reads from the internal memory 128 (and/or the externalmemory 132) the system settings and programs the POL regulatorsaccordingly via the POL interface 124. Each of the POL regulators isthen set up and started in a prescribed manner based on the systemprogramming. During normal operation, the controller 126 decodes andexecutes any command or message coming from the user or the POLregulators. The controller 126 monitors the performance of the POLregulators and reports this information back to the user through theuser interface 122. The POL regulators may also be programmed by theuser through the controller 126 to execute specific, autonomousreactions to faults, such as over current or over voltage conditions.Alternatively, the POL regulators may be programmed to only report faultconditions to the system controller 102, which will then determine theappropriate corrective action in accordance with predefined settings,e.g., shut down the front-end regulator via the FE DIS control line.

A monitoring block 130 may optionally be provided to monitor the stateof one or more voltage or current levels of other power systems notoperably connected to the controller 102 via the synch/data or OK/faultbuses. The monitoring block 130 may provide this information to thecontroller 126 for reporting to the user through the user interface inthe same manner as other information concerning the POL control system100. This way, the POL control system 100 can provide some backwardcompatibility with power systems that are already present in anelectronic system.

The POL control system 100 enables four different modes of operation. Inthe first operational mode, the POL regulators function independently inthe absence of a system controller and without interaction with otherPOL regulators. The POL regulators each include local feedback andcontrol systems to regulate their own performance as well as controlinterfaces to enable local programming. The POL regulators furtherinclude default settings in which they can revert to in the absence oflocal programming or data from the system controller. In other words,each of the POL regulators can operate as a standalone device withoutthe need for a system controller or interactions with another POLregulator.

In the second operational mode, the POL regulators interoperate for thepurpose of current sharing or interleaving in the absence of a systemcontroller. The POL regulators communicate with each other over thecurrent share interface. The synch/data line may be used to communicatesynchronization information to permit phase interleaving of the POLregulators, in which the phase is programmed locally by entering anaddress through hardwired connections.

In the third operational mode, the POL regulators operate as an array inwhich the behavior of each POL regulator and the array as a whole arecoordinated by a system controller. The system controller programs theoperation of each of the POL regulators over the synch/data serial bus,and thereby overrides the predetermined settings of the POL regulators.The synch/data serial bus is further used to communicate synchronizationinformation to permit synchronization and interleaving of the POLregulators. This operational mode would not include interdevicecommunications over the current share interface.

Lastly, the fourth operational mode includes both central control usingthe system controller and local control over certain functionality. Thisway, the POL regulators operate as an array coordinated by a systemcontroller and also interoperate with each other to perform functionssuch as current sharing.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of a method and system tocontrol and monitor an array of DC/DC power converters, it should beapparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of thesystem have been achieved. It should also be appreciated that variousmodifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may bemade within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The inventionis further defined by the following claims.

1. A power delivery management system, the system comprising: aplurality of digital power regulating devices, wherein each of theplurality of digital power regulating devices provides a plurality offunctions, wherein each of the plurality of digital power regulatingdevices is operable to provide power to one or more loads; and a controland communication bus, wherein each one of the plurality of digitalpower regulating devices is coupled to the control and communicationbus; wherein each one of the plurality of digital power regulatingdevices includes a controller operable to control the functions of acorresponding one of the plurality of digital power regulating devices;and wherein the plurality of digital power regulating devices areoperable to communicate with each other over the control andcommunication bus to exchange information to coordinate their functions.2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality ofdigital power regulating devices is also adapted to coordinate and/orcontrol the functions of one or more other ones of the plurality ofdigital power regulating devices.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein theother ones of the plurality of digital power regulating devices areadapted to provide status information over the control and communicationbus to the at least one of the plurality of digital power regulatingdevices.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of functionscomprise one or more power delivery functions; wherein each controlleris operable to control the one or more power delivery functions of acorresponding one of the digital power regulating devices.
 5. The systemof claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of digital powerregulating devices each comprise the same functions.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of digital powerregulating devices comprises a voltage converter unit.
 7. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the voltage converter unit comprises a DC (directcurrent) to DC voltage converter.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein thecontrol and communication bus is a digital bus.
 9. The system of claim8, wherein the control and communication bus comprises one or moredigital communication paths, wherein each one of the one or more digitalcommunication paths comprises one or more dedicated signals.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein each individual one of the plurality ofdigital power regulating devices is operable to be programmed and/orconfigured across the control and communication bus.
 11. The system ofclaim 1, wherein two or more of the plurality of digital powerregulating devices are operable to be grouped together in a currentsharing configuration.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein each one ofthe plurality of digital power regulating devices is operable to providefeedback data to all other ones of the plurality of digital powerregulating devices.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the feedbackdata comprises real-time data.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein thefunctions of the plurality of digital power regulating devices compriseat least one of: phase displacement; current sharing; and voltageprogramming and voltage tracking.
 15. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising at least one master control device coupled to the control andcommunication bus, wherein the at least one master control device isoperable to centrally control the plurality of digital power regulatingdevices to implement advanced features.
 16. The system of claim 15,wherein the advanced features comprise reconfiguring and/orreprogramming one or more of the plurality of digital power regulatingdevices.
 17. The system of claim 1, wherein the control andcommunication bus is a serial bus.
 18. The system of claim 15, whereinthe master control device is adapted to control the plurality of digitalpower regulating devices over the control and communication bus.
 19. Thesystem of claim 18, wherein the control and communication bus is aserial digital control and communication bus.
 20. The system of claim18, wherein said communicating with the plurality of digital powerregulating devices comprises each one of the plurality of digital powerregulating devices providing feedback data to the master control device.21. The system of claim 18, wherein the master control device comprisesa controller operable to execute functions corresponding to each of theplurality of digital power regulating devices to control the pluralityof digital power regulating devices.
 22. The system of claim 18, whereinthe plurality of digital power regulating devices provide statusinformation over the control and communication bus to the master controldevice.
 23. A digital power regulating device for use in a powerdelivery management system, the digital power regulating deviceincluding a power delivery circuit adapted to deliver regulated power toone or more loads, the digital power regulating device furthercomprising a controller operable to provide a plurality of functionspertaining to control over the power delivery circuit, the controllerbeing further operable to communicate with other like digital powerregulating devices over a control and communication bus to exchangeinformation and to coordinate their functions.
 24. The digital powerregulating device of claim 23, wherein the controller is also adapted tocoordinate and/or control the functions of one or more of the other likedigital power regulating devices.
 25. The digital power regulatingdevice of claim 23, wherein the controller is also adapted to receivestatus information from one or more of the other like digital powerregulating devices over the control and communication bus.
 26. Thedigital power regulating device of claim 23, wherein the controller isalso adapted to send status information to one or more of the other likedigital power regulating devices over the control and communication bus.27. The digital power regulating device of claim 23, wherein theplurality of functions comprise at least one power delivery function.28. The digital power regulating device of claim 23, wherein the powerdelivery circuit comprises a voltage converter unit.
 29. The digitalpower regulating device of claim 28, wherein the voltage converter unitcomprises a DC (direct current) to DC voltage converter.
 30. The digitalpower regulating device of claim 23, wherein the controller is operableto be programmed and/or configured across the control and communicationbus.
 31. The digital power regulating device of claim 23, wherein thecontroller is operable to couple the digital power regulating devicewith at least one other like digital power regulating device in acurrent sharing configuration.
 32. The digital power regulating deviceof claim 23, wherein the controller is operable to provide feedback datato at least one other like digital power regulating device.
 33. Thedigital power regulating device of claim 32, wherein the feedback datacomprises real-time data.
 34. The digital power regulating device ofclaim 23, wherein the plurality of functions comprise at least one of:phase displacement; current sharing; and voltage programming and voltagetracking.
 35. The digital power regulating device of claim 23, whereinthe controller is operable to serve as a master controller to centrallycontrol the other like digital power regulating devices over the controland communication bus.
 36. The digital power regulating device of claim35, wherein the controller is operable to control reconfiguring and/orreprogramming of at least one of the other like digital power regulatingdevices.
 37. The digital power regulating device of claim 35, whereinthe controller is further operable to receive feedback data from atleast one of the other like digital power regulating devices.
 38. Amethod for operating a digital power regulating device within a powerdelivery management system, the digital power regulating device beingoperably coupled together by a control and communication bus, the methodcomprising: controlling functions of the digital power regulating deviceto provide power to one or more loads; and communicating with at leastone other digital power regulating device over the control andcommunication bus to exchange information to coordinate their respectivefunctions.
 39. The method of claim 38, further comprising controllingthe functions of the at least one other digital power regulating device.40. The method of claim 38, further comprising providing statusinformation over the control and communication bus to the at least oneother digital power regulating device.
 41. The method of claim 38,further comprising receiving status information over the control andcommunication bus from the at least one other digital power regulatingdevice.
 42. The method of claim 38, wherein the controlling functionscomprise controlling one or more power delivery functions.
 43. Themethod of claim 38, further comprising programming the digital powerregulating device using information received across the control andcommunication bus.
 44. The method of claim 38, further comprisinggrouping at least two of the digital power regulating devices in acurrent sharing configuration.
 45. The method of claim 38, furthercomprising providing feedback data to at least one other digital powerregulating device.
 46. The method of claim 45, wherein the feedback datacomprises real-time data.
 47. The method of claim 38, wherein thecontrolling functions further comprises controlling at least one of:phase displacement; current sharing; and voltage programming and voltagetracking.
 48. The method of claim 38, further comprising centrallycontrolling plural digital power regulating devices.
 49. The method ofclaim 48, further comprising reconfiguring and/or reprogramming at leastone of the plural digital power regulating devices.